The Milwaukee Bucks’ rivals to the south could reportedly be going through some seismic roster changes in the foreseeable future.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, teams are keeping an eye on Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, as there is reportedly an openness between both the star and the organization about a trade. The Athletic’s Darnell Mayberry followed that up by saying a source told him that Chicago’s roster will not look the same in a month.
If the Bulls are indeed on the brink of a rebuild, there are a few players the Bucks should call about to at least kick the tires on a potential trade, and here they are.
No. 1 – Alex Caruso
The Bull who everyone, not just Milwaukee, will be calling about if a rebuild does indeed take shape is Alex Caruso. The guard is coming off his first All-Defensive selection and has championship experience under his belt, having won it all with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020. It would be hard to find a trade target more fitting for Milwaukee right now.
The Bucks could clearly use more perimeter defense, especially with the loss of Jae Crowder for the foreseeable future. Caruso would be a tremendous option, giving the team a tough guard who’d fit seamlessly in endless lineup combinations to beef up their defensive efforts. He’d particularly be a nice fit next to Damian Lillard in the backcourt, as Caruso could take significant pressure off of him.
From a financial perspective, Caruso is within reason for Milwaukee, as he’s on the books for $9.5 million this season and has a partially guaranteed deal next season. Many would say that’s a bargain of a contract for a player like him. Anything less than $10 million is doable for the Bucks without shaking up their roster too drastically.
The question here is whether or not the Bucks would be able to outbid other interested suitors. On top of that, it’d be interesting to see if Chicago would be interested in sending him to a division rival. Though this is not the NFL, it’s still something to consider. Ultimately, it’s something to keep an eye on at the moment, although it may be a bit of a long shot.
No. 2 - Patrick Williams
If Caruso is off the table, the Bucks should at least ask about Patrick Williams. The fourth-year forward has shown glimpses of two-way potential throughout his NBA career. Though he’s currently putting up some of the worst numbers of his career, Williams would make for a great addition to the team as they look for more help on the defensive end.
Williams is 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan. He’s very versatile defensively, and he can be tasked with guarding multiple different positions. Although Crowder seemed like a great fitbefore his injury, the Bucks are still looking for the perfect small-ball power forward for when they put Giannis Antetokounmpo at center, and Williams could be just that.
Adding him would also help the Bucks' recent emphasis on youth. The team made it a priority to bring in more youth this past off-season, and the 22-year-old Williams would continue that trend. Given that he's so young, Williams has a ton of upside. Playing alongside other top players like Antetokounmpo and Lillard, perhaps some of that potential could be unearthed.
The forward is making $9.8 million this season, which, as previously mentioned, makes him a fair target financially for the Bucks. However, despite that, the major roadblock that could prevent the Bucks from landing Williams is that if Chicago enters a rebuild, it would make sense for them to keep their young 22-year-old forward and instead trade away the seasoned veterans.
No. 3 - Torrey Craig
How about a reunion? While he might not be as attractive of a name as Caruso or Williams, Torrey Craig could make sense as a target for the Bucks. Of course, the forward is familiar with Milwaukee, having played for the Bucks to start the 2020-21 season. His tenure was uneventful, as he never found his footing before being traded. Perhaps the two sides could come together once again.
The Bucks could use a switchable and versatile defender like Craig following the loss of Jae Crowder, who will be out for approximately eight weeks following surgery. The 32-year-old stands at 6-foot-7 and has plenty of experience guarding household names, much like Crowder. The familiarity with Craig could make a move more reasonable, as he's got experience with the players and front office.
From a financial perspective, it doesn't get much better. The veteran forward is making $2.5 million this season and has a player option worth $2.8 million next year. That'd be an easy salary to absorb for the Bucks, though Craig cannot be traded until December due to signing a deal in free agency this past off-season. Unlike Caruso or Williams, putting together a deal would not be too complicated.
One thing that may make the Bucks hesitant about going after Craig is that it could possibly hinder the development of MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr. Both have seen an uptick in time in Crowder's absence, and that should continue throughout the year. Even then, a team can never have too many wing defenders, so even if it's for depth, Craig would be a justifiable target for Milwaukee.
Ultimately, the Bulls have a lot of compelling trade candidates if they do indeed plan on going through some major changes in the coming months. The Bucks should keep an eye on the situation.
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